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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Best in Romantic Suspense...

LONE STAR REDEMPTION

Harlequin
Romantic Suspense

Rusted Spur,
Texas, is full of secrets…until reporter Jessie Layton arrives looking for her
missing twin. Even after the search turns deadly, she vows to let nothing stop
her–including her own unwise attraction to a drop-dead gorgeous rancher who
only wants to protect his family from the truth that Jessie’s presence
threatens to expose.

From the
historical novels that began her writing journey (written as Gwyneth Atlee and
Colleen Easton) to the riveting romantic suspense that has become her
trademark, Colleen writes stories that show us that sometimes, love can kill.

In 2004,
Colleen's first romantic thriller, Fatal
Error, launched Dorchester Publishing’s new line of fast-paced, steamy romantic
suspense. The book was nominated for the
RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense and won the Texas Gold for Best
Mainstream Fiction. Other honors
received by her books include a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a
Readers’ Choice Awards, nominations from the Reviewers International
Organization, Top Pick, KISS awards, and a reviewers’ choice award nomination
from Romantic Times Book Club Magazine, and a Perfect Ten from Romance Reviews
Today.

Now residing
in the Houston area with her husband and son, Colleen works with children in
addition to her writing and speaking. When she’s not on deadline, she can often
be found hiking with her family, playing with her pets, fiddling with her
computer, or with her nose stuck in a good book.

THE INTERVIEW

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

COLLEEN: I was once privileged to meet one of the U.S.
veterans who helped in the liberation of one of the horrendous Nazi death camps
near the end of World War II. Though it was painful for him to talk about what
he'd seen, he came and spoke to my classroom of students with a humility and
compassion I'll never forget. He believed that bearing witness was the most
important thing he could do, and the children were deeply moved to hear it.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

COLLEEN: I'm a big fan of The (animated) Pink Panther and
Bugs Bunny, both of whom embody the concept of cool.

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

COLLEEN: Zach Rayford suffered horrific abuse as a boy in a
family torn apart by his father's violence and his mother's refusal to deal
with it. Yet after his father's death, he eventually comes home to help his
failing mother and picks up the reins of an unwelcome legacy. He's a really
stand-up guy for finding the wherewithal to forgive and do the right thing.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

COLLEEN: I read in bed, sprawled on the sofa, or out on my
back deck as often as I'm able. It's my favorite stress reliever after a busy
day of writing!

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

COLLEEN: I'm in love with the sounds of nature: the wind
rustling the leaves, the rain plinking off a tin roof, and the surf murmuring
secrets to the shore. When I'm stressed, I play recorded nature tracks by my
bedside to help me fall asleep.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

COLLEEN: Action adventure for sure. When it comes to books,
I love a good thrill ride!

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

COLLEEN: I recall being about twelve and writing a short
story called "The White Flame" about a wild mustang round-up, from
the point of view of a horse. It was terribly sad and beautiful (though I'm
sure I'd cringe to see it now) and I got up my nerve to show it to a very nice
older English professor who lived across the street. He encouraged me and gave
me some pointers--and I was totally hooked.

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

COLLEEN: Wasting way too much time playing games on
Facebook.

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

COLLEEN: Oh, it's just *awful* being forced to write about
big-hearted, noble, cowboys, rancher, firefighters, ER docs, and lawmen and the
smart, savvy women who tame them. And looking for character model photos
(especially of the male persuasion) on the Internet--it's absolutely *brutal*
work!

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What's your favorite thing about living in Texas?

COLLEEN'S GOTTA ANSWER: I often write
books set in Texas because I'm in love with its varied landscapes and people.
Readers often don't realize that the state has mountains, beaches, plains, and
deserts and contains everything from the tiniest of towns, where residents have
to have potable water trucked in to the most cosmopolitan of cities. My
husband, whom I've lovingly nicknamed "The Texas Almanac" and I have
spent a lot of have hours exploring our adopted state.

UP
NEXT for COLLEEN:LONE STAR SURVIVOR, another
Harlequin Romantic Suspense, will be out in December 2014. I haven't seen the
cover yet, but I'm editing the story now, and it's one of my most emotional
reads ever.

COLLEEN
is giving away a copy of LONE STAR REDEMPTION or THE BEST VICTIM(North American readers only, please.)

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COLLEEN
WANTS TO KNOW: What
are your favorite settings for contemporary stories? Do you love small towns,
big cities, exotic locales, or vacation venues that let you feel as if you're
on a beach/ski vacation?

USA Today Bestseller Angi Morgan is an 11th generation Texan who plots ways to engage her readers with complex story lines, in actual Texas locations. She shares her research and photos on her daily blog: A Picture A Day.

Tammy, Great question! The Intrigues tend to be a bit shorter/tighter and more focuses on action/adventure/crime solving/intrigue. The heroes are tough and confident alphas who are most often military, law enforcement, cowboys, or some combination thereof. Harlequin Romantic Suspense focuses somewhat more on the developing romance. There's a broader range of heroes, more room for secondary characters, and often more emphasis on families. I'd say HRS is more character driven, maybe because they're a little longer.